Despite an Arkansas school losing to one on the Oklahoma side for the first time in 2024, most Natural State squads took care of business.
Defending national champion and top-ranked Harding once again imposed its will and continues to show that the Bisons may be even better than last season’s unbeaten run.
Henderson State got walloped by Harding on Sept. 28, but served a whooping of its own last Saturday, while Arkansas Tech, Southern Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist – the lone remaining unbeaten GAC team not named Harding – also notched victories.
Arkansas-Monticello struggled on the road and the Boll Weevils are now on a three-game skid following a 2-0 start.
Week 5 Results
Arkansas Tech 44 Northwestern Okla. State 21
East Central 42 Arkansas-Monticello 17
No. 1 Harding 57 Southwestern Okla. State 3
Henderson State 52 Oklahoma Baptist 7
No. 14 Ouachita Baptist 25 Southeastern Okla. State 9
Southern Arkansas 49 Southern Nazarene 21
Edwards named Offensive Player of the Week
For the second time this season, Henderson State junior quarterback Andrew Edwards (Bentonville) was named the Great American Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week. Edwards completed 15 of 21 passes for 242 yards and 6 touchdowns, plus added 73 more on the ground, in HSU’s 52-7 win over Okla. Baptist. This marks the eighth time in Edwards’ career that he has won this honor.
Edwards was named Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 16 after passing for a career high 443 yards in a win over Southeastern Okla. State. He leads the conference in passing yards (1,105), completion percentage (63.4) and touchdowns (11).
Easter named Special Teams Player of the Week
McGehee native Jody Easter was named the Great American Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career following a standout performance in HSU’s 52-7 win over Okla. Baptist Saturday.
Easter got things started with a bang when he returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, plus he caught a 24-yard pass on the afternoon.
Top Performers
WR Connor Flannigan (Fayetteville), Ouachita Baptist, SR
Flannigan averaged 21 yards on 3 punt returns, including a long of 38, plus a 25-yard kick return, in OBU’s 25-9 win over Southeastern Okla. State.
LB Cam’ron Holmes (Wynne), Arkansas Tech, R-JR
Holmes caused problems in ATU’s 44-21 win over Northwestern Okla. State, as 2.5 of his 3 total tackles were for loss.
ATH Braden Jay (Cabot), Harding, JR
Fresh off of a GAC Offensive Player of the Week performance, Jay compiled 99 yards of offense 45 rushing, 54 receiving) and a score on 5 touches in Harding’s 57-3 win over Southwestern Okla. Jay also returned a kickoff for 44 yards.
QB Cole Keylon (Harrison), Harding, JR
Keylon completed 4 of 5 passes for 130 yards and 3 touchdowns, plus rushed for 85 yards and 2 scores, in Harding’s 57-3 win over Southwestern Okla.
DL Gary Lewis (Fordyce), Henderson State, R-JR
Lewis led the Reddies with 7 total tackles, including 2.5 for loss with a sack, and forced a fumble in HSU’s 52-7 win over Okla. Baptist.
QB Eli Livingston (Batesville), Ouachita Baptist, SR
Livingston compiled 200 yards of offense (121 passing, 79 rushing) and 2 touchdowns in OBU’s 25-9 win over Southeastern Okla. State.
WR Carter McElhany (Greenbrier), Ouachita Baptist, SO
McElhany made the most of his 2 receptions in OBU’s 25-9 win over Southeastern Okla. State, hauling in one for a 55-yard score.
DL Gage Price (Hamburg), Harding, SR
Price logged 3 tackles in Harding’s 57-3 win over Southwestern Okla., including 2 for loss with a sack.
DB Nichalon Smith (Monticello), Arkansas Tech, R-JR
Smith led the Wonder Boys with 8 total tackles, including 7 solo, and broke up a pass in ATU’s 44-21 win over Northwestern Okla. State.
Week 6 Schedule
East Central (1-4) at No. 12 Ouachita Baptist (5-0) 12 p.m.
Henderson State (4-1) at Southern Nazarene (0-5) 2 p.m.
Northwestern Okla. State (1-4) at No. 1 Harding (5-0) 2 p.m.
Southern Arkansas (4-1) at Oklahoma Baptist (1-4) (Thurs., 6 p.m.)
Southeastern Okla. State (2-3) at Arkansas-Monticello (2-3) 2 p.m.
Southwestern Okla. State (2-3) at Arkansas Tech (3-2) 4 p.m.
Cover Photo by Jody Easter via Henderson State Athletics
Kyle Sutherland is a journalist and podcast host (Arkansas Preps Weekly) for The Natural State Sports Network. His written work has been featured in outlets including the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Best of Arkansas Sports and Hooten’s Arkansas Football. He is also the color commentator for 103.7 The Buzz’s high school football Game of the Week. Email Kyle at kyle@naturalstatesports.com.